A winter storm will unload snow ahead of a freeze-up that will threaten to immobilize part of the southern United States this weekend before advancing toward the Northeast.

During Friday and Saturday, the storm will travel northeastward and ride the edge of arctic air that recently invaded much of the nation, including the interior South.

Major disruptions to travel and daily activities are anticipated with this storm due to heavy snow accumulation expected in some areas. Icy roads and sidewalks in other areas will also lead to major slowdowns this weekend and perhaps into early next week.

Airline passengers should expect lengthy flight delays and a number of cancellations, including in the major southern hubs of Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina. Displaced aircraft and crews could cause ripple-effect delays and flight changes elsewhere in the nation.

The storm will begin as rain and snow showers over part of the lower Mississippi Valley on Friday.

Georgia and Alabama have both declared a state of emergency due to the winter weather.

South storm begins Friday

"While the snowfall will be the most eye-popping aspect of the storm, motorists and pedestrians should also take note of the icy conditions that may form beneath the snow," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Bill Deger. "In some cases, rain that marks the start of the storm will freeze before or soon after the snow begins."

Snow will begin to ramp up over portions of central and northern Alabama and southeastern Tennessee to the point where a coating to an inch or two of snow can occur with more widespread slippery conditions.

Farther east, the storm will strengthen enough to produce a swath of accumulating snow from northern Georgia to the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

In much of this area, the storm will begin as rain, but a transition to snow is in store with a period of sleet or freezing rain in some locations.

People in the cities of Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia; Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina; Charlotte, Fayetteville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia, should be prepared for snow-covered and icy roads during Friday night and into Saturday. An accumulation ranging from 1 to 6 inches will occur along the Interstate 85 and I-77 corridors.

"Fortunately, the icy and snowy conditions will not develop in the I-85 corridor on south and east until after the Friday afternoon commute, which should allow millions to get home," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel. "However, people on the road in this area Friday night and Saturday are likely to experience dangerous travel conditions and will run the risk of getting stuck."

Along the I-20 corridor in the region, sleet may mix in for a time.

From near Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, to Norfolk, Virginia, from 6 to 12 inches of snow may fall with locally higher amounts possible if the storm develops to its full potential.

The storm could turn northward enough upon reaching the Atlantic Ocean to cause a period of snow from northeastern Virginia to New Jersey, coastal New York state and southeastern New England on Saturday.

For part of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern New England coasts, this may be the second storm in two days that requires shoveling and plowing operations.

Property owners and snow clearing crews are encouraged to remove snow promptly during and at the conclusion of the storm.

A surge of arctic air will quickly follow and cause wet and slushy areas to freeze. Removal of snow and ice will be difficult after the freeze-up occurs.

"The snow and slush will get glued on, like concrete in some cases," Samuhel said.

During the few days following the storm, problems with icy patches are likely as areas made wet by natural melting during the day freeze at night.

Temperatures will not significantly moderate until the middle of next week.